Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has released a second confessional video of Kulbhushan Jadhav, an Indian national accused of espionage by Pakistan, who awaits execution.
Jadhav has filed for a mercy petition to the Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Bajwa, seeking 'forgiveness' for his ‘espionage, and terrorist and subversive activities’.
On 1 June, Pakistan said Jadhav would not be executed until he has exhausted his mercy appeals.
India has rubbished the ‘confessional’ video, saying:
It brings out lack of transparency and farcical nature of proceedings against Kulbhushan Jadhav. Manufactured facts cannot alter the reality. We expect Pakistan to desist from attempting to influence ICJ proceedings in the Jadhav case through false propaganda. The details and circumstances of alleged mercy petition by Jadhav are not clear and even the facts of its existence are doubtful. We are determined to pursue the matter in ICJ and are confident that justice will be done in Jadhav case.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations’ (ISPR) press release, Jadhav has “admitted to his involvement in espionage, terrorist and subversive activities in Pakistan and expressed remorse at the resultant loss of many precious innocent lives and extensive damage to property due to his actions.”
The Pakistan military court had earlier rejected his mercy petition. If the request is rejected by the COAS, then he can subsequently appeal to the President of Pakistan.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) had earlier ordered Pakistan not to execute Jadhav until it hears a case brought by India arguing that Islamabad violated a treaty guaranteeing diplomatic assistance to foreigners accused of crimes.
Jadhav, a former officer in the Indian Navy, was arrested in March 2016 in the Pakistani province of Balochistan. In April this year, a Pakistani military court sentenced him to death.
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